Islamism: From Turkey to Canada
Vasarav is a tax attorney based in Montreal I’m a Turkish-Canadian and I’m getting a sick sense of déjà vu these days. Despite sporadic and relatively minor incidents of violence, for example a hotel set on fire in response to a Turkish publisher who wanted to publish The Satanic Verses, …
Principles and Politics: The Southern Poverty Law Center Loses the Plot
In addition to threats of violence by Islamic fundamentalists, liberal critics of Islam are increasingly abandoned. At best, we are inconvenient afterthoughts, at worst, bigots and hate-mongers. The intellectual confusion and moral paralysis plaguing the Western Left around the religion of Islam has done much to add credibility to the …
Why I left ‘Islam’ and chose not to return
This is a guest post by Soran Tarkhani. He is of Kurdish origin from Iraqi Kurdistan. In addition to working as an assistant lecturer at Salahaddin University in Erbil and is currently pursuing his PhD in political science. On reading Sidra Mahmood’s response to the VICE News documentary ‘Rescuing Ex-Muslims: …
The Ex-Muslim Revolution – Episode 1: Eid-al-Adha
Episode 1: Eid-al-Adha Armin Navabi, Hina, Karim, Lina, Muhammad Syed, Omar & Yasin discuss the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha, the pilgrimage to Mecca and the attempt of Abraham to kill Ishmael
Death by Cognitive Dissonance (On Eid-al-Adha)
This is a guest post by Nubeal Dada. Nubeal is an ex-muslim based in Pakistan who works in information technology and is passionate about social problems related to divorce and religion. He can be reached directly at @nubeals It happens every year, so why should this year be any different? …
The Humanist Quran – Al-Hikmah – Chapter 2 – Part 1
2:1 adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine 2:2 This is the Book , like all Books about which there should always be doubt, skepticism is a guidance for all those that are conscious of their fallibility, those that are true free thinkers. 2:3 Those who understand how we investigate the unknown, …
The Humanist Quran – Al-Hikmah – Chapter 1 – Al Fatiha
1:1 In the name of humanity, of elevating compassion , and of rationality 1:2 Praise and appreciation is [due] to the pioneers, those looking to understand the Worlds – 1:3 The Exceptionally Courageous, the Unfailingly Inquisitive, 1:4 Knowledge reigns sovereign over the days of the future. 1:5 We refuse to …
An Ex-Muslims Reading: SURAT AL-BAQARAH (THE COW) – 2:1 to 2:98
Unlike the Surat Al-Fatihah, this sura is much longer (286 verses) and will be divided in three posts. This post will go through verses 2:1 to 2:98. Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:1 – Alif, Lam, Meem. 2:2 – This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious …
An Ex-Muslims Reading: SURAT AL-FATIHAH (THE OPENER)
I don’t even know the number of times that I have stated this sura in Arabic during prayer. Given that Arabic is not my first language, I never actually knew what I was saying. Surat Al-Fatihah – The Opener 1:1 – In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the …
Was Muhammad a Merciful Man?
Whenever I hear someone say that Muhammad was merciful or that he was a champion of human rights during his time period, I cringe with anger. Calling Muhammad peaceful is like calling Genghis Khan a pacifist. They were both brutal men. No sugarcoating of history can change that. Unfortunately most Muslims …